[Help] "The Insider" (1999), Michael Mann

[Beber]

Hey, guys.
Was there ever a good Blu-ray in some country that retains the original 35mm colors, unlike the US botched remaster as per usual when it comes to Mann's involvement? I remember a 720p open matte HDTV that I had some years ago, but I don't think I still have it. Is there a 1080p, whether from HDTV or some streaming platform that still has the pre-remaster colors that are very much like the print I saw circa 2014-2015 in a Mann's retrospective, whenever "Blackhat" was released?

[Beber]

Does any of our fellow German members know how this German Blu-ray looks like? It's not from Disney/Buena Vista, so I wonder if they used the same master as in the US.

https://amzn.eu/d/7rSyJaL

[Beber]

As it turns out, I still have the open matte with original colors. I still wonder how the German Blu-ray looks like, though.
It's interesting to notice that Mann went kinda the complete opposite way with Heat between film and video (from colorful to depressive) compared to what he did with The Insider.

[alexp2000]

I think he just likes changing things to keep himself busy - I’m worried how the eventual Manhunter 4K will turn out..

[tjmackey]

I still have that 720p open matte too.

I wish I could find a 1080p copy of it, because I really prefer those 'blander' colors too

adds to that docudrama feeling

[Beber]

I was provided with the German Blu-ray, and alas, it's the same master as in the US:

[Virtualcrane]

As it turns out, I still have the open matte with original colors. I still wonder how the German Blu-ray looks like, though.
It's interesting to notice that Mann went kinda the complete opposite way with Heat between film and video (from colorful to depressive) compared to what he did with The Insider.

Wow, those are night and day. I'd love to see someone take a crack at regrading the Blu-ray.

[little-endian]

Same here, guess I finally have to get familar with those color adjustments tools like Davinci & consorts (the ones which regularly get misused nowadays) as I hate that pseudo-modern, muted/dull look with that retarded tendency towards teal.

@Beber: you also "only" have a 720p-OM version at hand, don't you?

[Beber]

Yes, I have that 720p somewhere. And I have the French R2 DVD. And the German BD which looks like the US one. The DVD and 720p open matte have the original look of the 35mm print I saw at the same period I saw the print of "Heat".

[little-endian]

Addition, since I just stumbled across a review looking for "Blu-ray comparisons" (in the very little hope that any official releases have the DVD-like color grading).

Quote from some review:

"The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer remains faithful to the source material, with a layer of light grain lending the image a textured quality that ties in nicely with the gritty atmosphere Mann and cinematographer Dante Spinotti evoke."

What in some movie god's name is being "faithful to the source material" by making a decades old movie - yet again - look like it was shot a few years ago? It is the same as usual, dull, somewhat hazy look which is the exact opposite of featuring halfway natural colors. ARGH!

Also other sites aren't short of remarks like "amazing transfer", "great colors". 🙄